Health matters: rough sleeping

A professional resource for local authorities and commissioners on preventing and ending rough sleeping. Click here for link to government resources

BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival returns to Birmingham

The festival, that runs for 12 days, will present more than 25 events in a range of venues to raise awareness of mental health and well-being. Read news piece here

RCOT launches new standards for education providers

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has updated its standards for pre-registration education, which are applicable to providers of occupational therapy courses across the UK. Read news item here

Primary care mental health service improves health and saves NHS money, finds new report

A psychological treatment service working in GP surgeries in Nottingham offers hope to people other services can’t help and has already saved more money than its staffing costs in its first year, according to research published today by Centre for Mental Health with the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network. Read news item here

Individual And Local Area Factors Associated With Self-Reported Wellbeing,

The findings reported here are from an analysis of data from the Understanding Society Survey (USS) which follows a large sample of people from across Britain over time. This study was undertaken to examine questions likely to be especially relevant for those working in the field of public health intelligence, using small area statistics to identify localities where interventions may particularly need to be targeted in order to reduce inequalities in wellbeing across England. Click here for link to the report from the King's Fund blog

Exercise May Slow Brain Degeneration in Those at High Risk for Alzheimer’s

Exercising several times a week may delay brain deterioration in people at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Mental Health Matters: Growth forecast for private providers

HSJ’s fortnightly briefing covering safety, quality, performance and finances in the mental health sector. Click here to read Health Service Journal briefing

NHS hospitals go back to the future for dementia care

NHS hospitals are going back to the future to help patients with dementia by decorating their wards, rooms and corridors in 1940s and 1950s style – creating a calming, familiar environment which can help jog memories, reduce anxiety and distress. Click here to read NHS news

Psychological Perspectives On Obesity: Addressing Policy, Practice And Research Priorities

This report calls for government to ensure every initiative aimed at promoting a healthy weight is informed by psychological evidence. It says weight management services are best delivered by multidisciplinary teams that include psychologists. Click here to read King's Fund blog

Achieving universal health coverage for mental disorders - The BMJ

Vikram Patel and Shekhar Saxena discuss strategies for integrating mental disorders, and other chronic conditions, into primary healthcare to achieve universal health coverage. Read analysis here. If you have any difficulty accessing the website please contact the library on 01905 760601

How to provide community-based early intervention in mental ill health

An HSJ roundtable, sponsored by XenZone, looked at the advantages of early intervention, increasing primary prevention and the role of digital in improving outcomes.Click here to read Health Service Journal roundtable

Rugby world cup a tonic for mental health and dementia says top NHS doctor

Although many home nations fans might find sitting through this year’s rugby world cup matches a little too nerve-racking at times, the NHS says watching the sport can actually be good for your mental health and wellbeing. Click here to NHS England news piece

Occupational Therapy: Unlocking The Potential Of Children And Young People

This report outlines the role that occupational therapists play in improving the lives of children and young people with physical, learning and mental health needs. Click here for King's Fund link to report

Advice For Introverts: Faking Extraversion Could Make You Happier

Emerging research may provide sage advice for introverts as investigators discovered “forced extraversion” for a prolonged time period improves well-being. So, for introverts, faking it as an extravert or forcing yourself to be an extravert can make you happier. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Life Helper: Don’t Make Major Decisions When Hungry

New research from Scotland supports the notion that hunger can influence our thoughts — and suggesting that we delay making important decisions when we are hungry. Read PsychCentral article here

Mental wellbeing of NHS staff is at a tipping point

Improving mental wellbeing in the workplace has to be implemented from the top-down, with NHS leaders making it a priority and not just a promise. Click here to read Health Service Journal article. Any difficulties accessing this please contact the library on 01905 760601

Childhood Trauma Linked to Early Motherhood, Poor Health in Middle Age

A new study of more than 3,000 women helps explain, at least in part, why women with a history of childhood trauma are at greater risk of poor health in midlife. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Smartphone Games Used to Detect Cognitive Decline

A new study from the UK finds that popular cellphones games could provide a new tool to help doctors spot early signs of cognitive decline. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Drinking Tea May Improve Brain Health

Regular tea drinkers have better organized brain regions compared to non-tea drinkers, according to a new study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Click here to read PsychCentral article

Mental Healthcare in Young People and Young Adults

This review looks in detail at the mental healthcare provided to young people from the unique perspective of the overlap between physical and mental healthcare, the quality of physical and mental healthcare provided and how patients with mental health conditions use healthcare services. Click here to read Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership report

Where to find help if you're struggling with a mental health problem

Click here to read the list

Social media use by teens linked to internalizing behaviors

A new study found that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to report high levels of internalizing behaviors compared to adolescents who do not use social media at all. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Do Nutrient Supplements Have Any Effect on Mental Disorders?

A growing number of studies have examined the benefits of nutrient supplementation in people with mental disorders. But which supplements have been proven to work — and for which disorders? Click here for PsychCentral article

Revisiting the one in four: the prevalence of psychiatric disorder in the population of England 2000–2014

Click here to go to British Journal of Psychiatry article. For full text click the pdf link. Any problems please contact the library 01905 760601

Dependence on prescription medicines linked to deprivation

Public Health England has published the first-ever evidence review of dependence and withdrawal problems associated with 5 commonly prescribed classes of medicines in England. Click here to read press release

Tailored support should be offered to those affected by suspected suicide, says NICE

Read NICE news piece here

Alcohol and drug misuse prevention and treatment guidance

Information and other resources to support commissioners, service providers and others providing alcohol and drug interventions. Click here to access collection

Prevention concordat for better mental health

Describes the consensus statement of the prevention concordat for better mental health and lists the signatories. Click here to see the policy paper

Can Artificial Intelligence Help Prevent Mental Illness?

Technology entrepreneur David Plans knows first hand the risks of ignoring mental health. While going through security at Brussels Airport in 2003, he suddenly passed out, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and flatlined in transit. Read Forbes article here

Furry friends ease depression, loneliness after spousal loss

Researchers have found the companionship of a pet after the loss of a spouse can help reduce feelings of depression and loneliness in older adults.Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Suicide prevention profile: September 2019 update

Data on suicide, associated prevalence, risk factors and service contact among groups at increased risk. Click here for government statistics

Closer links between police and health services can improve experiences for people in mental health crisis

Tighter working partnerships between health professionals and police services are likely to improve the care of people who come into contact with police during mental health crises. Click here for study from National Institute for Health Research

The impact of a no deal Brexit on health and care

In an open letter to MPs, The King's Fund, the Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust, summarise the four major areas where the impact of a no deal Brexit could be felt most sharply in health and care. Click here for King's Fund link

Study: It’s Never Too Late to Start Resistance Training

Older men in their 70s and 80s who have never been regular exercisers may have the same ability to build muscle mass as highly trained master athletes of a similar age, according to a new U.K. study published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology. Click here to read PsychCentral article